Combination stock and freight car.



J. C. BBRTSGH. COMBINATION STOCK AND FREIGHT OAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1912.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

Si lini WJTNESSES /Nz/ENTo/e J. 0t BERTSGH. OOMBINATION STOCK AND FREIGHT OAR.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1912'.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m S S E m W J. C.v BERTSGH. COMBINATION sTooK AND FREIGHT GAR.

v l APPLICATION 'INED SEPT. 24, 1912. 1,056,489.

Allomzy Patented Mar. 1S, 191'8. .l

5 BHEETSj-BEEET 3.

l J. o. BBRTSGH. COMBINATION STOCK AND FREIGHT CAR.

l1913. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1912.

` Patented Mar. 18

WITNESSES s sums-SHEETS.

APPLIOATION FILED BEIT. 24, 191.2.

Patented Mar. 18,

WJTNESSES I IN1/@NMR ,Lkr/q Allo/wey UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JOHN CHARLES BERTSCH, OF FORT WORTH. TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD GENERAL SERVICE CAR COMPANY, 0F FORT WORTH.

TEXAS, A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED 0F TOM B. OWENS,' EVERETT WYATT, AND JOHN CHARLES BERTSCH. ALL 0F FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

COMBINATION STOCK AND FREIGHT CAR.

Application filed September 24, 1912. Serial No. 722,083.

To all inkom, 'it mag/concern I e it. known thaty I, JOHNQ. Bim'rscii, acitizen of the United States. residing at Fort iVm-th, in the county of Tarrant and State of r1`exas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Stock andFreight Cars, of which thel following is a specification.

This invention relates to stock cars and means for converting a stock car in partl or as a. whole into a freight car.

The object of this invention is Ato provide cheap and practical means which may be applied to stock cars, whereby a stock car can be readily and quickly converted into a freight ear, or into a ear of which one part is a fr ,'ght ear and the other part is a stock car, without much manual labor.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for the conversion of a stock car, in part or as a whole, into a freight car, which can be applied to any kind of uiiderfranie; which occupy but little of the useful space of a car, and which are safe, durable and quickly repaired.

Still :mother object of this invention is.

to provide such means for the conversion of a stock ear, in part or as a whole, into a freight car, which form a complete closure which is tight against dirt, sparks` cinders and the atmospheric elements', and which secure permanently clean surfaces for the inside of a steek car while same is used as a freight car.

Other objects as well as the advantages of d'iiferentforms of attachments to stock cars will be fully explained in the following specifications and claims.

To overcome the expense of returning empty stock cars, and to increase the utility of the rolling stock, many attempts have been made to con-struct soscalled general service cars, or to provide stock cars of ordinary Construction with attachments for the coni'ersion of a stock car into a freight ear. l'lowever, all such attempts have tailed in practice, so far as l know, because the construction did not till the requireinentscfa freight cai' with reference to` cleanliness. durability` simple handling and rep a i ri n ,en

Astock car, when converted into a freight car, must be tight against sparks, cinders, rain and snow, and as the inside surfaces and their excreinents, they can not. be used for shipping freight. The rough usage of railroad rolling stock-forbids the use of atinto a freight car', which consists of more or less delicate parts or such which require a certain degree of precision and alineinent for their operation. The means employed for suoli purposes must be simple, cheap, safe and flexible. and they must permit easy and quick repairing` everywhere. All 4of these requirements are met with in this invention in a high degree, by providing within a stock .ar of ordinary consti-notion a complete covering of the inside surfaces, consisting of'folding or slidin(Jr sheets for the sides, sliding sheets for the ends, and a sectional'cover for the Hoor of the car.

The sheets forming the side covers are hinged to the Hoor covers, or if the latter are. not desired. to connecting bars, which are provided with chains, ropes or cables` with a pulling arrangement and with a lifting mechanism, for the simultaneous raising or lowering of the entire inside covering of a stock ear.

For shipping live stock,l the entire inside covering'is pla-ced underneath the roof of the car, and for shipping freight of any kind, the entire inside covering is simultaneously lowered` thereby converting a stock ear into a' freight car.` one half of the-in." le covering. one half ot the car may be used as a freight Cai' while the other half is used as a stock car. By removing the side and end covers, or the side movable tioor only to one halt the heightI of the ear` whereby either half of the car may be used as a double deck ear while the other halt is usedas an ordinary stock car.

The entire inside covering may be made El of wood or metal. and the shape and construction of the severai parts may differ l materialtiv in order to provide suitable arl rangements for different classes oi" Atreigihi Patented' Mai-Q18, i 913.v

y of a stock car become soiled by the-animals f By lowering only- `covers only. a stock car may be used as a' double deck car by simpl)v lowering the tachments for the conversion of a stock car -All attachmentsof this invention are s mmetrical on` both sides and. cross center lines therefore all plans and of the longitudinal and y-fy, and sections of the drawings show only one half of the attachments.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a half loni gitudinal sectionrv along the center line -m i of Fig. 2, of a stock car equipped with all.

. the inside covering lowered for freight.V Fig. 2 is a half plan view of a lzo the attachmentsof this invention, showing stock car as shown in Fig. 1, with the roof removed and a part of the movable andper- A marient floors cut away for showing a plan l with guard and cable covers.

` ordinary construction,

` showing of the lifting mechanism. Fig. 3 1s a cross section along line e-e of the stock car shown by Figs. l and 2, lookingy in the di rection indicated by arrow points. One half showing the inside lowered for shipping freight, and the other half showing the inside lcovering placed underneath t-he'roof for shipping live stock. Fig. 4 is a vertical detail section showing the safety device for holding up the inside covering. Fig.. 5 is a horizontal detail section showing one form of sliding covers. Fig. 6 is an isometrical View of a part of the inside coveringof a stock car without iioor covers. Fig. 7 is 'a detail view and part section of' a cable sheave vertical cross section showing cable sheave and cover. Figs. 9 and 10 are-horizontal detail sections .through a art of the sides of a stock car, showin di erent constructions of cable grooves. Figs'. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are detail Views and sections of a reversible crank for o erating the liftingmechanism. Figs. 15 an 16 are detail sections showing connections of cables to :door covers. Figs. 17 and 18 are plan views of Figs. 15 and 16. Fig. 19 is a horizontal section, arid-Fig. 2O an elevation of a l cking device for the side covers. Fig. 21' 1s a vertical cross section another formv of slidiig covers. Fig. 22 is 'a vertical cross section, ig. 23 an elevation, and Fig. 24 a horizontal cross section of one form of a convertible door construction. Fig. 25 is an elevation with vertical section of another form ofva convertible door for a stockcar. Figs. 26, 27

and 28 are details lof the door shown in' eferring to the drawings, 4A represents the 4complete body-of a -stock car of 4 consisting of the underframe with permanenty floor, the body framing with sides, ends and roof. Two' inshipping1 `main pull or cable Fig. 8 is a provided with four or more guide blocks 41:,v

shown by Figs. 2, 8, 9, 10 and 15 to 18iiiclusive, which `are slidable within grooves 5, .which are formed by suitable steel shapes and fastened preferably directly to the'` body framing in order to make them Hush with the slats G of a stock car, as shown throughout the drawings and in detail by Fig. 9. Thesteel shapes forming grooves 5 may also 'be fastened upon the perinanentslats 6 of a stock car, as shown by Figs. 10, 19 and 20. The guide blocks l form also guards for the iexible members 7 which are fastened to ioor covers 1` or frames 2, :is shown by Figs. 15 to 18. These liexible members 7 maybe either chains, ropes orpreferably cables, and being a part of the pulling arrangement,

they-pass within grooves 5 up to and over.

sheaves 8 which are attached to the top plate of a stock car, and then over sheaves 9 to a pulling block'lO, which forms the connection between members 7 and the flexible 11, which is similar to but much stronger than the flexible members 7, and, connects with the lifting mechanism for the raising and lowering of the inside covering'of the stock car.

Pulling blocks 10 with main pulls 11 are movable up and down within main grooves 12, which are closed by covers .13 as shown by Fig. 9, or made of seini-box shapes as shown by Fig. V10', for keeping them free from dirt as well as foivprotectmg the main pulls 11. Main pulls 11 pass through the erznanent floor of a stock car, underneat of which they pass tirstover vertical guide ,sheaves 14, which are in closed in slieave boxes 15, `thence through tubes 16 and overhorizontal guide sheaves .17, and finally over main sheaves 18, terminating in the adjustable eyebolts 19, as shown by Figs.

-1, 2 and 3.v Tubes 16 connect sheave boxes 15 with casing 20, which contains the lifting mechanism and is preferably located between the two center-sills of the uiiderfranie. Iftlie underfranie has only one center-sill, casing 20 is located onthe side of the sill op osite the location of the in er. If the construction of the underair brake cylframe or any other obstacle forbids the use ofone centrally located casing 20, two such vcasings, one located at each'outside sill of the underframe maybe used, and both casin s 20 operated by one common crankshaft.

he lifting mechanism within casing 20 consists of a screw 21 of which one end is pivoted in bearing 22 and the other end carried by bearings 28. To screw 21 is rigidly 'connected a worm or spiral gear 24., which is by screw 21 and guided horizontally ,by guides 2G during its travel between bearings 22 and '23.

A worm or spiral 27, mounted rigidly Y. upon a shaft 2,8 which extends over the whole width of the car, as shown by Fig. 3,

and which carries at each end a crank 29, engages with gear 24 and causes the screw 21 to turn eitherway according to the turning ot' the cranks 29. For the perfect lubrication ot all parts of the mechanism, the casing 20 is lilledwith oil up to centerline of screw 21, which permits the oil to reach sheave boxes 15 through tubes 16 keeping the main pulls 11 soaked in oil, and preventing the oil running through the bearings of shaft 28.

Each independent half of the inside covering of the stock car is provided with a complete lifting mechanism, so that the attachment in one halt of a` stock car can be operated independently of the other half. As the entire weight to be lifted is placed upon crosshead 25 which can not turn, the lifting mechanism is self-locking in any p0- sition' it may be left by resting cranks 29. It is apparent that by turning cranks 29 the driver 27 turns the driven gear 24, and witn it the screw 21, thereby causing the cross= head 25 together with sheaves 18 to travel forward or backward, depending upon the turning of the cranks, and consequently causing the pulling blocks 10 to travel upward or downward, which results in the lowering or raising of4 floor covers 1 or frames 2 with all the side and end covering connected: to them or being operated by them. The `main pulls 1,1 are shown strung around sheaves 18 in two plies, which makes the travel .oit crosshead 25 one halt ofthe distance the pulling blocks 10 must travel to place the entire insie coverings at their lowest and highest positions. If the travel of crosshead 25 as well` as the length of casing 20 must be shortenbd for want of'space or any other reason, one or two more pairs ot sheaves 18 may bejplac'cd upon crosshead 25 and the main pul'llsllf strung in three' or four plies, without departing from the system ot the liti ing mechanism.

The handles of cranks 29 cannot project beyond the limit width ,tot the car while the car is moving, and to revent loss ot cranks 29 they must be rigidly connected to shafts 28. 'ihesn requirements make a reversible crank handle necessary. 'T he straight part of cranks 29 is provided with a shoulder 30 and with a head 31 with notches 3 2, )which 'forms a neck 33 tufnable within the lower part ot habia-4, which is rigidly connected to shaft 28, the upper part of hubl34forms ling Vof the car a housing for notched head 3'1, and is prov1ded on one s1de witlra sprmghousmg 35 which holds a pin 3G with a spring 37, hub

34 being closed on top with a cover 38.

Spring 37 presses pin 36 into one oit the notches 32, holding crank 29 in any desired posit-ion. By pulling pin 36 outward, crank 29 can be turned and the handle placed as required for any purpose, as shown by full and dot-ted lines of Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14. For -keeping the flexible members 7 'within the grooves of sheaves 8 and 9 and for protecting sheaves 8 and 9 from dirt and damage, guards-39 are provided as shown by Figs. 7 and 8. These guards 39 are on their inside closely fitted to the largest circumference ot that part of sheaves 8 and 9 which carries the flexible members 7, preventing them from coming out of sheaves 8 and 9 when the pulling arrangement may be' come slack. vided for sheaves 18, and the sheave boxes 15 as well as the casing inclsing sheaves 14 are likewise fitted to sheaves 14 and 17 for keeping the main pulls 11 within their grooves under 'all conditions. rl `he flexible members running between sheaves 8 and 9 are protected by covers 40, andguards 39 as well as covers the top plate of the body framing of a stock car, as shown by Figs. 7 and 8.

Figs. l5 to 18 inclusive show the fastening of the flexible members 7 to the floor covers 1.` A link or loop 41 is provided at theend of the members 7, which is .held to door coverv 1 'either by a pin 42 or by an eyebolt 43, of which the latter permits a close adjustment of the length of the members 7.

vSide and @mi @fuera-Flat sheets 44 and 45 of the entirel length froml door to end of a car are made foldable by hinges 46, as shown by`Figs. 3 and 6. .At their bottom, sheets 44 are hinged by hinges 47 to floor covers 1 or frame 2,. and the top of sheets 45 is provided with straps 48, which form with brackets 49 and pins 50 a loose hinge by which sheets 45 are hung to the top plate of a stock car. Sheets 44 have along their top edge a joint covering plate 51 which overlaps sheets 45, and the ends of sheets 45 are provided with plates 52 and angles 53 for overlapping the ycorner strips 54 and door corners 55 rspectively,in order to form a tight closure against dirt and rain. Sheets 44 havealong their bottom edge a shape 56 for closing against floor covers 1 or frames 2. The straps 48 are loose on'pins 50 to avoid any strain onv the covers 44 and 45 or on the hinges 46 and 47 through the swingwhile in motion, and primarily to assist in the startof the inward folding of the side covers. `Whilc the car is converted into a freight car, with all thc inside covers down, the straps 48 do not rest upon the pins 50, but their tops are a few 40 are flanged and screwed tol 44 and Similar guards may be proinches longer, allowing the entire weight of the inside'covering to rest upon the permanent floor of a stock car.

For raising the inside coverlng, the

latches 57, which may be placed in any num.

ber on either one or both of the covers 44 and 45 areturned open to disconnect them from the shapes forming the grooves 5, as

f the covers 44 and 45 to form a wide angle, preventing them by their own weight from going back to a vertical position, and which places during theuralsmg of the entire coveringywpart of thewweight upon the top. pfates of a stock car.

lith the side covers in the position just described, the' lifting mechanism can be operated .by turning cranks29 until the entire inside covering is in its highest position under the roof of a s tock car. During the raising of the folding side'covers 44 and 45, the sliding end covers 58 and 59, of which any desired .number can be used, rest in their lowest position until angleGO ofcovers 58 rests upon floor covers 1 or frame 2, when covers 58 start to -Inove upward, carrying with them covers 59 by means ofthe angles Gland 62. Covers 58 and 59 slide within grooves 63 and 64 and lap over each other for closure against dirt and rain, as shown by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.- During the lowering of the entire inside covering of a. stock car by turning cranks 29 in the opposite direction, folding covers 44 and 45 open up or unfold, and covers 58 andv59 slide down by their own weight. To insure a positive movement, the bottom of covers 58 is provided with angle 65, by means of which floor covers 1 or frame 2 pull cover-58 down till bars 66 and 67 meet, when both covers 58 and 59 must follow the lowering of floor covers l or frame 2. ln their lowest position, covers 44 andv45`f0rm again awide angle with each other-,caused by the extension of strap 48. ,Covers '44' and 45 are pushed toward slats 6, and the latches 57 turned so that they engage with `l the .shapes forming grooves. 5, as shown by Figs. 19 and 20, thereby locking sheets 44 and 45 in a vertical position to the permanent sides of a stock car.

Latches 57 turn within the side covers to which they are attached. ATo prevent the opening of them while the car is in motion, springs 68 with square blocks 69ers provided Blocks 68 fit into the square holes of the latches 57 and preveng` them from turning, One turn of ninety degrees will either connect or disconnect latches 57'to or lfrom, the permanent sides ot a stock car.

To make a turn in either direction. key 70 is pushed into the square hole latch 57, thereby pushing the spring bloeit G9 out of .tion shown by dotted lines by raising tbe hole, permittii g1' the latch 57 to be turned, after which key 70 is withdrawn when block 69 enters the hole of latch 57 again and holds the latch in the desired position.

It isobcns that by removing all inside coverings used for shipping freight within a stock car, from coming in contact with the animals shipped in a stock car, all surfaces will remain perfectly clean But for certain freight, such as cotton and lumber, the only requirement is to have a car tight against sparks and rain, and nodemand is ma de for particular cleanliness. ln such cases a moditied form of sliding covers for the sides and ends of a stock car may be used, as shown by Fig. 21. As many sliding covers 71 as there are spaces between slats 6 of a stock car, are connected to separating bars 72,

which have at their ends lugs 73 and 74, covers 71 moving within grooves of suitable shape. These covers 7l lower themselves by their own weight and thereby close the spaces between slats 6. But they are besides kept closd by the floor covers 1 or frame 2 resting upon lugs 73. To raise'covcrs 71,l floor covers l or frame 2 are raised by turning the cranks 29 until licor covers 1' and frame 2 reach lugs 74 and are further raised to the limit travel of covers 71.

A device shown by Figs. 1, 3 and 4 for holding the entire inside covering in its highest position andv for preventing the swinging of the weight of the inside covering suspended on the flexible, members 7, consists of a shaft 75 upon which are rigidly mounted any desired number of brackets 7 6, which with the lever 77 at one end of shaft 75 hang by their own weight toward the. inside of the car, being held by stops 78,- as shown by full lines, and which take the posi- I ever 77 by pulling the flexible member 79. which is connected to the end of lever 77 and passes over a sheave or pulley '80. When lioor covers vl or 4frames 2 are raised und pass the brackets 76, the latter arc ushcd back in the position shown by dott-e, lines. falling forward again in the position shown byv full lines as soon as loor covers l or frame 2 have passed the most projecting point of brackets 76. The lowering of floor coversl or frame 2 slightly, places the. entire weight ofthe completeinside covering upon brackets 76, permitting the release or removal for repairs of the pulling arrange lnent and lifting mechanism. For lowering the inside covering, the. same is first raised slightly to free brackets 76, which are then turned bark by pulling the flexible member 79 and 'fastening same to hook 8l.

)00rs.-0rdinary solid doors may bc used for both services, freight: and live stock shipping. But if an exchange of thc inner surfaces is required combination doors must each top corner, form a flexible rolling door which sli-des with-1n vertical grooves 86, which extend-underneath the roof of the car.

Sheets 83 may be lifted by hand or by a/snitable lifting mechanism as indicated by Figs. 22, 23 and To dispense with two sets of doors, a convertible door sliding along the vce dit

outside ot a stock car in the ordinary way, Ymay be used. lThe lower part of door trame 8? is covered on the outside with sheets 88,

and the upper part is provided with permavnent bars 89 and covers 90 which turn on hinges 8d, being fastened in either position by latches 91. When the door is used `-tor a stock cai', covers 90 hang Within the space 'formed by the thickness of the trame 87 and outside sheets 88. When the. door is used for freight, covers 90 are turned up, placed against bars 89 and locked by latches ill which engage in slots 92. In either position covers 90 take up no more space than the thickness of trame 87, thereby leaving nothing in the Way which, could .prevent the sliding ci the door in the ordinary way. The inner surfaces of c`overs`90, used for a stock car, are turned toward- -the outside While used tor a freight ear, thereby securing perfectly clean surfaces ofsheets-SS and covers 90 while they are usedgfor a freight car.

TWhat l claim new is:

l. a convertible stock car having a permanent licor and permanent slatted walls, the combination ot sectional means for closlng and opening the open spaces between the slats of said Walls, a temporary floor struc iure adapted to engageand lift said sectional means, flexible members connectedto said floor structure and extending to the top of said permanent Walls, and lmechanical means located underneath the said permanent floor and connected to said ,flexible members tor lifting said floor structure.-

2. In a convertible stock car haiiinga per' manent Hoor Aand permanent side and end Walls, the combination of a temporary floor in sections, temporary oldingesidewalls in sections hinged together and hinged to said temporary floor and also hinged to the top of said permament side Walls, temporary sliding end Walls, iexible members attached to' said temporary sectional floor and suspended from the upper part ot the car, andli'neans `for elevating and lowering said -temporary floor, folding side Walls and sliding end walls simiilt-aneonsly, said means located underneath the said permanent loor.

3, Tin a convertible stock carthaving a pernlsnient' door and permanent end' and side Walls with aldoor way in each side wall, the combination of a temporary floor 1n sections, temporary folding side walls in sec! tions hinged together and hinged to said temporary floor sections and also hinged to the to` of said permanent side Walls, temporary s iding end walls in sections and means for guiding said sliding end Walls in a vertical position, means for operating said sliding end walls, guide blocks'attached to said temporary floor sections, flexible members attached to said guide blocks and suspended from the top of said permanent side Walls, guide ways attached to said permanent side walls for guiding said guide blocks and flexible members in a vertical position,

i'loor for elevating and lowering said temporary floor, temporary folding side walls and sliding'end walls simultaneously, and an automatically engaging safety device for hold- .means located underneath said permanent I in-O said temporary floor sections, folding' si .e Walls and sliding end Walls in their highest elevated position.

4. In a convertible stock car having a per-` manenti Hoor and permanent side and end Walls With a door way in each side wall, the combination with guide Ways attached to said ermanent end andside walls, sheaves attaciietl to said permanent side walls and a casing 'attached' to 't-heunderframe of' said stock car V'underneath the said permanent floor, a temporary sectional floor with guide. blocks, lexible.members attached thereto, said guide blocks and flexible members sl1ding vertically within said guide Ways attached to said permanent side walls, sheaves attached to said permanent, side Walls, and over which said ieaible members pass, a

' flexible main member for each side of a section of said temporary Hoor, and to which a plurality of said flexible membersare connected, said flexible main members extending through said permanent ioor into said casing, temporary folding side walls in sections hingedly connected together and hingedly connected to said temporary door sections and also to said permanent side Walls, temporary sliding end walls in sections sliding within said guide ways attached to said permanent end Walls, means for operating said sliding end Walls by said tem orary floor sections, means in said casing or elevating and lowering said temporary floor sections simultaneously .with said foldin side wall sections and with said sliding en Wall sections, and means for securing said temporary floor sections, foldin side Wall sections and sliding end Wall sectionsv underneath the root" of'sid 'stock car in their highest elevated position.

v 5. In a convertible stock car having a permanent door and permanent side and end walls, the combination with a temporary sectional -floor, temporary sectional foldiso '25 side wan, the

ing Side walls and temporary sectional sliding end walls, closed gnide'ways vertically attached to said side walls, flexi t ble members connected to said folding side walls, and passing through saidgnide ways and permanent floor, hoisting 'means .located underneathisaid permanent floor and operatively connected to said members and,

comprising a casing therefor located underl f '1`0 neath the floor of said'stock car, sheaves located in said main cas1ng,a crosshead with internal screw thread on which the sheaves v are carried, a srew. carried by bearings and turning Within said crosshead, a shaft passing through ,said casing and extending across ythe 4said can', 4and geared to said screw and provided with a crank at each end, said l floor for raising andlowering said tempoand throngl'i the said flexible members in ing through one of toeach of said permanent side walls and ex' ten ing from each post of said doorways to a plurality of brackets mounted on each of each of said shafts on the outside of said end Walls, iiexible members ,connected to the ends of said levers and extending outside of said end Walls, and means for fastening said any desired positlon tothe lower part of the outside of said permanent end Walls, said flexible members operating simultaneously the two shafts passthe said permanent end walls, turning the said brackets outwardly for the release of said elevated temporary sectional floor, folding side -walls and sliding end Walls. f

In testimony whereof, I. a'ix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

.itoHN oHARLEs BERT-son. Witnesses! l F. N. SMITH, H. B. D. JEWELL.

Copies of this patenty may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington,- D. C. 4 l

permanent end Walls,

.said shafts,va lever mounted to the end of 

